Federal immigration authorities have detained Badar Khan Suri, an Indian national and postdoctoral researcher at Georgetown University, citing alleged connections to a senior Hamas adviser and the dissemination of controversial content on social media. Suri was arrested outside his home in Rosslyn, Virginia and is currently held at an ICE detention center in Alexandria, Louisiana, pending immigration court proceedings.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claims that Suri engaged in online activity linked to Hamas messaging and antisemitic rhetoric. On March 15, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a determination under the Immigration and Nationality Act declaring Suri deportable based on national security grounds.

Suri’s legal team has filed a writ of habeas corpus, arguing that the arrest may be tied not to genuine threats but to his Palestinian-American spouse and their public advocacy for Palestinian rights. They emphasized that Suri’s research focuses on peacebuilding and conflict resolution in Iraq and Afghanistan, not political extremism.

Georgetown University released a statement affirming that Suri was enrolled on a valid visa and that they were unaware of any legal violations. A spokesperson reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to academic freedom and controversial inquiry, stating: “We support our community members’ rights to free and open inquiry, deliberation, and debate, even if the underlying ideas may be difficult, controversial, or objectionable.”

Suri’s detention comes amid a broader crackdown by the Trump regime on pro-Palestinian activists. Earlier this month, Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent U.S. resident and student at Columbia University, was arrested in connection with organizing campus protests. Civil liberties advocates warn of a growing pattern of political targeting under the guise of immigration enforcement.

Civil rights groups including the Center for Constitutional Rights and Democracy Forward have demanded Suri’s release, citing concerns over academic freedom and selective prosecution. As of now, no court date has been set.

The Crustian Daily will continue to track developments in this case and others as the line between security enforcement and political repression grows increasingly blurred.